One can always aspire to become an actor, and with rigorous training, reading a book or two on Stanislavski’s method, entering yourself in improv classes, and training your voice and your body, you might perform quite well in your local theatre troupe’s play. However, training until your fingers bleed might still not be enough, as you have to have that certain charisma and that magnetism that will make your performance a real success. And those two, sadly, do not come together with training. However, to be a truly great actor, you have to have both - the charm and the training, and the ladies on our list succeeded tremendously in their quest to become the best actresses possible. And, to celebrate them, we’ve created a follow-up list to our best actors article, where the ladies take center stage. So, here we are with our list of the best actresses whose performances have blown us, the critics, and the masses away. Of course, you might not agree with our ranking - in that case, give the famous actresses who you think deserve to be on the top of this list your vote.
All of these popular actresses have created memorable characters, made us laugh with their amazing wit, and cry watching their stellar performances. Some of them, like Maggie Smith, started their careers in theatre and found their cinema fame only later in life. With some, though, it’s exactly the opposite. Some have been in dozens of movies, and the younger actresses might’ve only performed in a couple, but that might’ve been just enough to put them under our radar. Any way you look at it, though, these actresses are basically incapable of sub-par performances!
So, scroll on down below to check who made it onto our list of the best actresses! And, if we’ve missed someone worthy to be here - let us know in the comments section!
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Meryl Streep
She absolutely deserves the top spot. She's been in a couple not-so-great movies, but she was still absolutely stellar in her role in those films.
Helen Mirren
Kate Winslet
Emma Thompson
Emily Blunt
Amy Adams
Emma Stone
Anne Hathaway
Sigourney Weaver
Her portrayal of Ripley in Alien was the first time I'd seen a woman as a lead role and a hero. What's more Ripley wears clothes I would consider suitable for her escapades. I believe it was because the character was written gender neutral until Sigourney got the part. I wish it had started a revolution of how women are portrayed in action/horror movies, but I'm still waiting
Rachel McAdams
The fact she gifted us with Mean Girls and The Notebook in the same year-
Jessica Lange
Frances Mcdormand
Emma Watson
Sorry love the HP series but if you had said her eyebrows were best actress would agree. Far more ďeserving actresses than her.
Toni Collette
Eva Green
Reese Witherspoon
We can all at least agree she gave us some of the best movie quotes out there
Nicole Kidman
Rachel Weisz
Robin Wright
Elizabeth Olsen
Lena Headey
Jennifer Connelly
Jessica Chastain
Marisa Tomei
Melissa Mccarthy
Annette Bening
90 Best Actresses In Film History - I'd retitle the article to reflect the many who've been omitted due to the recent timeline: Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Louise Brooks, Sophia Loren among them.
Exactly, add the likes of Ingrid Bergman and Catherine Deneuve.
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Too western, too starlet, too populist, too focussed on the last 20 years. Samantha Morton?? Michelle Yeoh??
More like best actresses for the last 20 years. What about old school Hollywood? Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Collins, Judy Garland, Bette Davis. Also, only 1 Asian lady?
90 Best Actresses In Film History - I'd retitle the article to reflect the many who've been omitted due to the recent timeline: Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Louise Brooks, Sophia Loren among them.
Exactly, add the likes of Ingrid Bergman and Catherine Deneuve.
Load More Replies... Too western, too starlet, too populist, too focussed on the last 20 years. Samantha Morton?? Michelle Yeoh??
More like best actresses for the last 20 years. What about old school Hollywood? Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Collins, Judy Garland, Bette Davis. Also, only 1 Asian lady?
